Royal Air Force Association standard laid to rest (From York Press)

Royal Air Force Association standard laid to rest

10:45am Friday 27th July 2012 in News

A POIGNANT ceremony has been held at the Yorkshire Air Museum after an historic standard was laid to rest.

The Standard of the Royal Air Force Association Yorkshire (Eastern) Region, which is a symbol of fellowship and unity for the association, was formally “laid up” in the Chapel of the Allied Air Forces.

The standard has been paraded for more than 50 years, most recently at the inauguration of the French Memorial in York Minster last October, and has been laid up because the regional association is being wound up, though members will remain active in RAFA.

Felicity Richardson, who has been standard bearer for the last eight years, said: “It was a very emotional day, but it was an honour to represent so many wonderful people, past and present, by carrying this standard, which means so much to everyone involved. It is great that it has a permanent home here at Elvington , but sad that it is the end of an era.”

The event was organised by Cyril Shreeve, who has been President of the Yorkshire (Eastern) Region RAFA since 2009, and served in the RAF between 1941 and 1946.

Mr Shreeve, who has been involved with the association for 19 years and is chairman of the Ryedale branch, said: “It was a sad occasion for this region to be winding down and the standard laid up, I’m very happy with all the arrangements that have been made by the museum to lay the standard up in such a dignified and respectful manner.”

Ian Reed, the museum’s director, said: “The service will ensure that the standard is displayed with the respect and dignity it deserves, and the museum is proud to accept it into our care.”

The standard will remain in the museum’s chapel, alongside the National Standard of the Air Gunners Association, and other squadron and RAF Association standards from all parts of the the United Kingdom.